Headdress was given to Carl James O'Hornett in the late 1950s by the Osage Nation when he was given a commendation by the tribe and made an honorary chief (Tatakamoi) for his fair dealings with the tribe regarding mineral rights.

The family name used to be O'Harnett, but was interchangeable with O'Hornett by the 1950s, and the family now goes by O'Hornett.